Hey Joe, This is exciting (or terrifying ) news, depending on your point of view!! Not only a proven Caspian breeding colony for Whatcom County, but a brand new golf course right downtown, as well! Must remember to bring the clubs as well as binoculars, if we visit. Jerry Broadus has recorded Caspian breeding for Pierce County. Thanks for the report DH

As a matter of fact, there is significant Caspian news from Bellingham. Just a couple of blocks from the downtown core, on the site of the old Georgia Pacific mill where numerous buildings have been razed over the past couple of years, we have a brand new nesting colony of CATEs.

Where the buildings were leveled, a virtual "deserted beach" (mostly gravel) now exists right next to the Whatcom Waterway which leads into Bellingham Bay. This area is under tight security by the Port of Bellingham and there is NO human activity taking place until the City of Bellingham and the Port decide what they're going to do with this property. No one knows how long that will be!

When I heard the first rumor and considered the possibility of nesting CATEs, I contacted the Port and gained accompanied access to the site and was blown away by what I saw. >200 CATEs were present, most of which were on a guano-covered knoll, or near a pool of rainwater down slope from the knoll. What really caught my eye was the number of eggs--all over the place! Some birds appeared to be sitting on eggs and all were alert to my presence and reacted accordingly; although, I never lost my hat! I had a similar encounter years ago with a colony of Least Terns on the Louisiana Coast---same behavior was exhibited here but with a much larger bird!

I have a couple of large JPGs but I'm not sure about the protocol of sending one to Tweeters so let m
e know. Of special interest is one particular bird sporting at least 4-5 colored bands. Also noticeable in the same photo is....a golf ball! Looks like a Titleist (sp?).

Just to wrap up the Caspian Tern discussion, we certainly need to be on out toes for next year as their supposed local breeding season happens really fast. Towards the end of May, my own sightings of terns with fish declined rapidly. I do not believe I have seen a Caspian Tern around the Magnolia peninsula in the month of June.Does anyone else have significant Caspian sightings?? DH